Dubai-based documentary filmmaker and Managing Director of Veritas Film, Mahmoud Kaabour talks to Dubai Lime about his great interest in film making and his new company in Dubai.
ÂÂÂ
How long you been in Dubai?
I moved to Dubai in 2005 after 7 years of studying and working in the film business in Montreal, Canada. But way before that, I lived in Dubai in the early nineties and attended high school here. Coming back after a long absence has always been stimulating through the abundance of comparisons between past and present.
Where are you from originally?
I am from Beirut, Lebanon.
As the Managing Director what exactly is your role in Veritas Films?
As Managing Director, I outline and pursue the company's projects. This entails working with corporate clients to create compelling videos about their businesses. I am also  the film director of many of these projects, so once the business is out of the way, I put the creative hat on and begin to conceive the artistic approach for each film .
What is your background before you became the Managing Director of Veritas?
I have been making films since I was 16 years old. I made my first as a eulogy to my late grandfather whom I missed terribly. I then took to  expressing all my thoughts in short films that did so well in film school, until I landed a scholarship to continue my education in Montreal. Upon graduating, I made my first long documentary "Being Osama" which was broadcast on 12 international channels and won 4 awards. When the film did so well at the Dubai Film Festival, I decided to stay in Dubai which I had missed, and make films here.
Are you always interested in films? or how did you first get interested in film?
My youngest uncle was a film student when I was a little kid. He hired me as an extra on one of his school projects and I just fell in love with the idea of him standing behind a camera and giving directions as " doing homework." Who wants to write essays or do research for hours in a library ever?! - I thought to myself. I took after him. One day we might just make a film together!
When is Veritas Film established?
Veritas Films is a newborn, from 2008. I had been conceptualizing and directing high end corporate films in Dubai for three years when it suddenly struck me that it's time I had my own shop.
What exactly your company do?
Veritas Films is highly specialized unit in the production of non-fiction: corporate films, cultural documentaries, and web content. We aim to celebrate realities in films of rare depth and allure.
What do you think, the future of entertainment/film business in the region?
Dubai is surely developing the necessary infrastructure for a stellar film industry which will succeed in attracting productions to the region. I am more curious however to see initiatives that will help filmmakers from this part of the world bring their stories to life. So far we don't have any film funds in place to make this happen.
What makes Veritas Film different from other video production companies in Dubai?
We have a holistic and auteur approach to filmmaking. From conception all the way to delivery, we work intimately on every aspect of the project to see that it comes to life according to a signature style. For that our projects are always artful and high in value, in addition to realizing their promotional objectives.
What is the best way for potential clients to contact you?
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Trackback(0)
TrackBack URI for this entryComments (0)
Show/Hide comments
